{"id":1925,"date":"2017-01-10T20:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-01-10T20:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/architizer.wpengine.com\/reinventing-the-column\/"},"modified":"2022-05-31T07:45:26","modified_gmt":"2022-05-31T11:45:26","slug":"reinventing-the-column","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/inspiration\/collections\/reinventing-the-column\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Times Architects Reimagined the Column"},"content":{"rendered":"

Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizer<\/a>\u00a0and sign up for our\u00a0inspirational newsletters<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The rules are simple \u2014 the overall height of a column capital should be half the diameter through the bottom of the column. Divide the height into 19 modules. Give three modules to the abacus, four to the scrolls of the volute, six to the echinus, and leave the remaining six at the bottom to the volute. The width and depth of the abacus should be the diameter at the top of the shaft of the column.<\/p>\n

\n\t\n\t\n<\/div>\n\n

Ironic Column by Robert Venturi<\/i><\/p>\n

In case Alberti\u2019s approach to designing a column seems overly pedantic, you might prefer Venturi\u2019s idea of what a column should look like. Cartoonishly oversized, his \u201cIronic\u201d column at the 1977 addition to the Allen Memorial Art Museum has an exaggerated capital, no basis, and looks like a child\u2019s interpretation of the classical support system. This, along with a few other examples of post-modernist architecture, marks the last time classical orders were directly referenced in built architecture.<\/p>\n

Over the last century the column has undergone dramatic changes in both structural and aesthetic interpretation, emerging as an architectural element whose connection to the over four-thousand-year-old concept often seems barely detectable. Here are a few more examples of how architects have subverted Alberti’s conventional column throughout recent history.<\/p>\n

\n\t\n\t\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\n\t\n<\/div>\n\n

Johnson Wax Headquarters<\/b> by Frank Lloyd Wright, <\/b>Racine, Wis., United States<\/p>\n

The SC Johnson and Son Administration Building is famous for its dendriform columns. Frank Lloyd Wright\u2019s tendency to introduce organic elements and metaphors into his designs has found its most distinctive incarnation in the tall slender columns of the administration building, also known as the Johnson Wax Building.<\/p>\n

\n\t\n\t\n<\/div>\n\n

Chuey House<\/b> by Richard Neutra, Los Angeles, Calif., United States<\/p>\n

Neutra\u2019s \u201cspider legs\u201d go beyond the footprint of his houses and grab onto the surrounding landscape. This system of extended beams and columns blurs the line between interior and exterior and has specific psychological significance.<\/p>\n

\n\t\n\t\n<\/div>\n\n

Clos-Pegase Winery<\/b> by Michael Graves, Calistoga, Calif., United States<\/p>\n

Another post-modernist example \u2014 Michael Graves\u2019 1984 Clos Pegase winery combines classical and modernist architecture while giving it a Mediterranean twist. Dominating the entrance portico, two massive pillars support the structure and divide the building into two volumes.<\/p>\n

\n\t\n\t\n<\/div>\n\n

M2<\/b> by Kengo Kuma<\/a>, Tokyo, Japan<\/p>\n

One would hardly believe that this bizarre building is the work of Kengo Kuma. Built in 1991 as Matsuda\u2019s (Mazda) car showroom, the building now allegedly functions as a funeral hall. It can\u2019t get more post-modernist than this.<\/p>\n

\n\t\n\t\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\n\t\n<\/div>\n\n

Kanagawa Institute of Technology<\/b> by Junya Ishigami<\/a>, Kanagawa, Japan<\/p>\n

The almost weightless Kanagawa Institute of Technology rests on no less than 305 white columns of various sizes placed seemingly randomly and supporting the stripped roof of skylights. Their etheric quality frees up the space and makes them almost disappear.<\/p>\n

\n\t\n\t\n\t

\u00a9 Iwan Baan<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n

\n\t\n\t\n\t

\u00a9 Iwan Baan<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n

Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2009<\/b> by SANAA<\/a>, London, United Kingdom; photos by Iwan Baan<\/a><\/p>\n

A similar treatment of columns is used by SANAA in the design of the 2009 Serpentine Gallery Pavilion. An aluminum structure rests on a system of columns that form different spaces meandering through the park.<\/p>\n

\n\t\n\t\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\n\t\n<\/div>\n\n

Sendai Mediatheque<\/b> by Toyo Ito<\/a>, Sendai, Japan<\/p>\n

Toyo Ito, on the other hand, merges thin columns into lattice systems that are used as supports, light shafts, storage spaces and vertical communication. Six steel-ribbed slabs are supported by 13 vertical steel lattice columns that look like trees.<\/p>\n

\n\t\n\t\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\n\t\n<\/div>\n\n

Serpentine Sackler Gallery<\/b> by Zaha Hadid<\/a>, London, United Kingdom; photos by Luke Hayes<\/a><\/p>\n

The Sackler Gallery has columns that visually accentuate their primary role as supports. Appearing sliced out of the envelope, the five interior columns also function as light wells.<\/p>\n

\n\t\n\t\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\n\t\n<\/div>\n\n

Paper House<\/b> by Shigeru Ban<\/a>, Lake Yamanaka, Japan<\/p>\n

The Paper House is one of those projects that blur the line between the column as autonomous element and the continuity of an envelope. Freestanding paper tubes surround different spaces of the house and create spatial continuity.<\/p>\n

Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizer<\/a>\u00a0and sign up for our\u00a0inspirational newsletters<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Over the last century the column has undergone dramatic changes in both structural and aesthetic interpretation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":81,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"architizer_featured_type":"projects","architizer_featured_image":"1892640","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,3],"tags":[15],"architizer_project":[],"architizer_brand":[],"architizer_firm":[9238,9538,9551,9539],"architizer_product":[],"class_list":["post-1925","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-collections","category-inspiration","tag-collection","architizer_firm-kengo-kuma-and-associates","architizer_firm-sanaa","architizer_firm-shigeru-ban-architects","architizer_firm-zaha-hadid-architects"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n10 Times Architects Reimagined the Column - Architizer Journal<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/inspiration\/collections\/reinventing-the-column\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"10 Times Architects Reimagined the Column - Architizer Journal\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Over the last century the column has undergone dramatic changes in both structural and aesthetic interpretation.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/inspiration\/collections\/reinventing-the-column\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Journal\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Architizer\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2017-01-10T20:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-05-31T11:45:26+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Lidija Grozdanic\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@Architizer\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Architizer\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Lidija Grozdanic\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/inspiration\/collections\/reinventing-the-column\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/inspiration\/collections\/reinventing-the-column\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Lidija Grozdanic\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/5618d68619d9a453c475eda61b2b5508\"},\"headline\":\"10 Times Architects Reimagined the Column\",\"datePublished\":\"2017-01-10T20:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-05-31T11:45:26+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/inspiration\/collections\/reinventing-the-column\/\"},\"wordCount\":706,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"keywords\":[\"Collection\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Collections\",\"Inspiration\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/inspiration\/collections\/reinventing-the-column\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/inspiration\/collections\/reinventing-the-column\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/inspiration\/collections\/reinventing-the-column\/\",\"name\":\"10 Times Architects Reimagined the Column - Architizer Journal\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2017-01-10T20:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-05-31T11:45:26+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/inspiration\/collections\/reinventing-the-column\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/inspiration\/collections\/reinventing-the-column\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/inspiration\/collections\/reinventing-the-column\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"10 Times Architects Reimagined the Column\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Journal\",\"description\":\"Inspiration and Tools for Architects\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Architizer\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/blog.architizer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/favicon.df2618023937.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/blog.architizer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/favicon.df2618023937.png\",\"width\":36,\"height\":36,\"caption\":\"Architizer\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Architizer\/\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/Architizer\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/architizer\/\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/architizer\/\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/architizer\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/Architizer\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/5618d68619d9a453c475eda61b2b5508\",\"name\":\"Lidija Grozdanic\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b3d54812b5319c72dabcaffc315be7b207e468482244ed051afc00fd2011204e?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.architizer.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Flogo-600x600-1.jpg&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b3d54812b5319c72dabcaffc315be7b207e468482244ed051afc00fd2011204e?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.architizer.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Flogo-600x600-1.jpg&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Lidija Grozdanic\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/author\/lidija-grozdanic\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"10 Times Architects Reimagined the Column - Architizer Journal","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/inspiration\/collections\/reinventing-the-column\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"10 Times Architects Reimagined the Column - Architizer Journal","og_description":"Over the last century the column has undergone dramatic changes in both structural and aesthetic interpretation.","og_url":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/inspiration\/collections\/reinventing-the-column\/","og_site_name":"Journal","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Architizer\/","article_published_time":"2017-01-10T20:00:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2022-05-31T11:45:26+00:00","author":"Lidija Grozdanic","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@Architizer","twitter_site":"@Architizer","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Lidija Grozdanic","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/inspiration\/collections\/reinventing-the-column\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/inspiration\/collections\/reinventing-the-column\/"},"author":{"name":"Lidija Grozdanic","@id":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/5618d68619d9a453c475eda61b2b5508"},"headline":"10 Times Architects Reimagined the Column","datePublished":"2017-01-10T20:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2022-05-31T11:45:26+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/inspiration\/collections\/reinventing-the-column\/"},"wordCount":706,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/#organization"},"keywords":["Collection"],"articleSection":["Collections","Inspiration"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/inspiration\/collections\/reinventing-the-column\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/inspiration\/collections\/reinventing-the-column\/","url":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/inspiration\/collections\/reinventing-the-column\/","name":"10 Times Architects Reimagined the Column - Architizer Journal","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/#website"},"datePublished":"2017-01-10T20:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2022-05-31T11:45:26+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/inspiration\/collections\/reinventing-the-column\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/inspiration\/collections\/reinventing-the-column\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/inspiration\/collections\/reinventing-the-column\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"10 Times Architects Reimagined the Column"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/","name":"Journal","description":"Inspiration and Tools for Architects","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Architizer","url":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/blog.architizer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/favicon.df2618023937.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/blog.architizer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/favicon.df2618023937.png","width":36,"height":36,"caption":"Architizer"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Architizer\/","https:\/\/x.com\/Architizer","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/architizer\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/architizer\/","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/architizer\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/Architizer"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/5618d68619d9a453c475eda61b2b5508","name":"Lidija Grozdanic","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b3d54812b5319c72dabcaffc315be7b207e468482244ed051afc00fd2011204e?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.architizer.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Flogo-600x600-1.jpg&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b3d54812b5319c72dabcaffc315be7b207e468482244ed051afc00fd2011204e?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.architizer.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Flogo-600x600-1.jpg&r=g","caption":"Lidija Grozdanic"},"url":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/author\/lidija-grozdanic\/"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1925","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/81"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1925"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1925\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1925"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1925"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1925"},{"taxonomy":"architizer_project","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/architizer_project?post=1925"},{"taxonomy":"architizer_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/architizer_brand?post=1925"},{"taxonomy":"architizer_firm","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/architizer_firm?post=1925"},{"taxonomy":"architizer_product","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/architizer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/architizer_product?post=1925"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}